Muting bar for electrical musical instruments



A. L. SCHILLITQG 7,

MUTING BAR FOR ELECTRICAL MUSICAL. INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 4, 1953 Filed Sept. 25, 1950 Arden L. Schilling INVENTOR.

BY Quad-3:...

W /ma A. L. SCHILLING MUTING BAR FOR ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 4, 1953 Filed Sept. 25, 1950 Fig.7

Arden L. Schilling INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 4, 1953 MUTING BARFOR ELECTRICAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Arden L. Schilling, Decatur, :Ind;

Application September 25, 195. Serial No. 186,659

8 Claims.

1 invention relates to the class of musical instruments and more particularly to electrically actuated chimes and the like.

An object of this invention is to provide simple means which may be readily installed on the framework from which opposed rows of chimes depend for actuating the chimes.

Another obiec. of this invention resides in the provision of a simple though highly efficient muting bar for use in muting opposed rows of chimes.

Still further objects of the invention reside in the provision of the means for simply and easily installing solenoid actuated structure means for actuating a set of chimes. 1

Other objects of the invention reside in the provision of an electrical musical instrument that is simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient in operation, capable of be ng played from a simple keyboard, and which instrument is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These, together with the various ancillary objects of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this electrical musical instrument, a preferred embodiment of which has been 11- lustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of the pre- I ferred form of the invention;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the device, shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional detail as taken along line lie-i3 in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is another vertical sectional detail as taken along line 44 in Figure 1 Figure 5 is a horizontal sect1onal detail as taken along line 55 in Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a sectional detail view showing the construction of the solenoids for actuating the striker members; and

Figure '7 is a perspective view showing the construction of one of the striker members.

'l/Vith continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numeralsin rows as indicated at 22 and 24. The-solenoids .22 and 2.4 dependfrom the support member 2.6 and are secured to plates 2% and .30 respectively. The member 26 is hingedly secured to the frame III by means of the plate 32 which is detachably secured about the frame it, the frame 1L0 being received within recess it formed in one end of the member 25. The other end of the member 26 is provided with a notched portion as .at 36 so that the extension 38 of the member ZB'may engage another portion of the frame 10 when it is desired to rotate the member -26'to lock it in place. 'A' plate 40 and bolts 42 are provided for lockingly holding the member 28 in engagement with the other portionof the frame Ill.

The strikers I 8 and Marc secured to the support member "26 by means of individual hinge elements 44 and 46 through which hinge elements there are attached springs 48 and 51] for continuously urging the strikers out of engagement withthe chimes "l4 and 16. The strikers Hand 2 0 eachconsists of disks 52 of similar material which are secured to the ends of the shafts 54.

There is provided a keyboard 56 for actuating the solenoids and the keyboard is electrically operatively connected to the solenoids and to a suitable sourceol. electrical power. One of the :keys in the keyboard 56 is provided for actuating the prime mover comprising an electrical motor as indicated at '58 which is mounted on a horizontal support plate 59 which is provided with apertures 60 through which the chimes l4 and f6 extend.- The motor 58 is provided for actuating the muting bar 62 which is mounted on a shaft '64 'rotatably journaled in the frame 1 0. A lever GB'is secured to the muting bar '62 and has one end-of a line 68 secured thereto, :the .otherend of the line being secured to a drum :70 driven by the-motor 58. Hence, upon actuation of-the motor 58 rotation of the drum 10 will cause, the muting bar to engage the chimes ill anddfi. A spring 12 is terminally secured tothemuting bar and to the plate '59 to continuously urge: the muting bar t2 out of engagement with the chimes.

of the coils I4 in order thatwhen the solenoid :is actuated sand the core 15 pulled inwardly, the

.core ".lfi willnotcontact a rigid member so as to create .an. unpleasant noise.

:Since fromtheforegoins the construction and advantages of this electrical musical instrument are readily apparent, further description is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of saidchimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting bar by urging said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, and electrical circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar.

2. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured tosaid shaft, means for actuating said muting bar by urging said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, electrical circuit motor carried by said frame, a drum driven by said motor, and a line terminally secured to said drum and to said lever.

3. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having dependingtherefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting'bar by urging said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, electrical circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar, a horizontal support plate secured to said frame, said chimes extendin through apertures in said plate, said means for actuating said muting bar including a lever attached to said muting bar, a motor carried by said plate, a drum driven by said motor and a line terminally secured to said drum and to said lever.

4. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting bar said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar, a horizontal support plate secured to said frame, said chimes extending through apertures in said plate, said means for actuating said muting bar including a lever attached to said muting bar, a motor carried by said plate, a drum driven by said motor, a line terminally secured to said drum and to said lever, said resilient means including a spring terminally secured to said muting bar and said plate.

5. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting bar by urging said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar, said solenoids depending from a support member, hinge means for rotatably securing one end of said support member to said frame and locking means at the other end of said support members rigidly securing said member to said frame.

6. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting bar by urging said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar, said solenoids depending from a support member, hinge means for rotatably securing one end of said support member to said frame and locking means at the other end of said support members rigidly securing said member to said frame, said means for actuating said muting bar comprising a lever attached to said muting bar, a motor carried by said frame, a drum driven by said motor, and a line terminally secured to said drum and to said lever.

'7. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting bar by urgin said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar, said solenoids depending from a support member, hinge means for rotatably securing one end of said support member to said frame and locking means at the other end of said support members rigidly securing said member to said frame.

a horizontal support plate secured to said frame,

said chimes extending through apertures in said plate, said means for actuating said muting bar comprisin a lever attached to said muting bar, a motor carried by said plate, a drum driven by said motor, and a line terminally secured to said drum and to said lever.

8. An electrically actuated musical instrument comprising a tubular frame having depending therefrom opposed rows of chimes, resiliently mounted strikers for each of said chimes, solenoids for actuating said strikers, a shaft journaled in said frame, a muting bar secured to said shaft, means for actuating said muting bar by urging said muting bar into engagement with said chimes, resilient means continuously urging said muting bar out of engagement with said chimes, keyboard switch means, circuit means including said keyboard switch means for activating said solenoids and said muting bar, said solenoids depending from a support member, hinge means for rotatably securing one end of said support member to said frame and locking means at the other end of said support members 6 rigidly securing said member to said frame, a horizontal support plate secured to said frame, said chimes extending through apertures in said plate, said means for actuating said muting bar comprising a lever attached to said muting bar, a motor carried by said plate, a drum driven by said motor, a line terminally secured to said drum and to said lever, said resilient means comprising a spring terminally secured to said muting bar and said plate.

ARDEN Li SCHILLIN G.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,034,001 Durfee July 30, 1912 2,456,321 Rhodes Dec. 14, 1948 2,463,543 Kunz Mar. 8, 1949 2,528,663 Mitchell Nov. 7, 1950 2,540,925 Zimmerman Feb. 6-, 1951 

